Emir attends Air College graduation ceremony

January 30, 2014 - 3:03:47 am

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the Air College’s officer cadets at Al Udeid Air Base yesterday. The ceremony was also attended by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, a number of ministers and armed forces officers.

Doha: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday attended the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the Air College’s officer cadets in Al Udeid Air Base.

As the Emir arrived at the podium, the musical band played the national anthem and the leader of the parade came forward to request the Emir to review the parade of graduates.

The Commander of the college Brigadier Salim Hamad Al Nabit said it was a happy and blessed day as “we commission a group of ‘air falcons’ following the completion of their professional air training”.

He said the college was established to defend the homeland and came as a result of the vision of the wise leadership for which “we feel glory and pride. Our armed forces are witnessing progress in all fields, especially our air forces which have introduced sophisticated and multi-purpose planes to their fleet”. He said the college was founded in 2009 and was part of the series of successes achieved in Qatar. The goal is to develop the college as a distinctive institution, he added. He advised the graduates to obey the Allah and to work hard, saying this day was the start of a path which was not easy.

“The homeland is expecting much from you as you are the hope and leaders of the future. Get fortified with religion and knowledge, and fulfil expectations of your leaders,” Al Nabit told the graduates. The Emir honoured outstanding graduates. The outgoing batch of graduates exchanged flags with the incoming batch after which the order for the graduates’ upgrading was read out and the oath was taken.

The Emir also attended an air show performed by the Emiri Air Force and toured the Air Base facilities, including the take-off area and the aircraft maintenance centre. QNA